We were invited into Nilufar's home - a humble haven away from all the noise and touristic distractions in Cappadoccia. She prepared a wonderful menu of traditional Turkish dishes for us to cook together. We made menemen, tarjana soup and an aubergine meat entree with bilgur rice. She also prepared a very unique fig walnut dessert which we absolutely loved!
Our meal was comforting, cozy and absolutely delicious but what made this experience really special was Nilüfer's warmth and genuine care for us. We didn't feel like guests - we felt like family and that's exactly how we were treated. We talked about food, family, politics, history, and even destiny and fate. Going to Nilüfer's home felt like reconnecting with your long lost Turkish aunt that you never knew you had.
This was one of our favorite things we did in Cappadoccia! It felt like a very local, human experience in a place where so many things can feel so artificial. Definitely sign up if you're looking for that!